Wednesday, November 21, 2018

It has been such a wonderful year...rolling by with highs and lows!
I extend my thanks to each of you for being part of it. Even the things that don't go as planned are learning experiences.

As a little thank you gift this Thanksgiving, and as a token of appreciation, I'm sharing one of my antique doll quilts with you - and the FREE pattern.
We can all do with some little treasured projects.
Fun, sweet and simple - you might like to make more than one!

First, a little background.

Last May I bought a set that included a cradle, doll and bedding. It was topped off with a doll quilt. The doll quilt felt like it had something other than batting inside it. I have been lucky in the past to find older quilts inside other quilts. Could I be so lucky this time?
I was!! It wasn't just a cut down - it was a true mini quilt!
The original is hand pieced and hand quilted. I machine pieced and hand quilted mine.

There are two choices.
If you like a mystery DO NOT go to the "Thankful" pattern tab with the photos and complete instructions.

If you want to make the project now, straight through go HERE.
If you like a mystery, stay on this page for the first part of the project.

Monday, November 5, 2018

It is Quilt Market time - and my book is in the Schiffer Publishing booth (1749). There are 13 new titles in their booth as well as best selling titles they keep in print.
If you are there stop in and have a look. If not, browse the catalog with the link below.
The books are not for sale in the booth - This is market for businesses to order wholesale. The booth has all the titles available to preview. For this reason they do not retail at quilt festival.
I do not know who might have my book at Festival. If you do - please let me know I have had many inquiries. I did make arrangements for some presages and people are picking them up in a friends booth. I have also sent some prepaid copies to hotels for customers saving international postage.
Contact me I am still selling books directly.
SCHIFFER CATALOG HERE. Many books have preview pages.

Not a link - just shows rank

I chose Schiffer for my book because of their long history with a broad range of book outlets. To be in the Amazon top 100 needlework books is...well...its' a bit of a rush!
Maybe I need loftier goals? Keep climbing?

It validates that research, history and collecting do interest people and can sell books.

Amazon is a blessing and a curse, it deeply discounts the books initially which also cuts the author. One just has to hope that the distribution makes up for it. They have 60-80% of ALL book sales, theres no choice but to go with it!
I also sell signed books at my events.
I have been asked to do a post of FAQ's regarding writing the book.
If you have a question send them to me - I can keep your name anonymous if you like.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement!
Happy Stitching - and Reading,
Dawn

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Yesterday afternoon I did my live American Patchwork and Quilting Podcast Interview with host Pat Sloan.
It is a four segment show, I am the third guest on episode 398.
You can listen to it HERE.
In the coming days it will also be available HERE.

If you are new to this podcast, you can listen without subscribing. You can also search by name and listen to years worth of wonderful quilt related interviews.

I enjoyed talking with Pat and I hope you enjoy listening!

Thanks you for all of your support. Thrilled to have readers ordering multiple book copies - one of many compliments - "It's gift worthy"

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Thank you for all of the wonderful feedback on the book! It was a labor of love and I'm thrilled you love it too.SCHEDULE
October 3-7 Bethesda, Maryland
American Quilt Study Group Seminar
Book Signing for Registered Attendees

October 13 Bloomington, Minnesota
Questers State Meeting
Presentation, Exhibit and Book Signing -
Registered Attendees Only

At Houston - Quilt Market November 3-5 - Schiffer Booth
Shops can order my book and ask about special programs for signing events.
If you aren't going to market additional information is available HERE. Click on Book Seller and Resellers

We have more new patterns coming up to compliment many of the antique items featured in the book.

I will be posting order again on October 7.
Until then...
Digital Pocket Pattern HERE.
Mary Witherwax HERE.
Etsy Shop - shipping again after October 7 HERE.

Your book has shipped, inside the cover you will find the free exclusive bookmark just for you.

The book is also available in the gift shops at the Chester County Historical Society, Winterthur Museum, the Schwenkfelder Gift Shop and more locations coming soon. If you know of a retail outlet interested let me know and I can get them information.

The book is also available on Amazon, Book Depository and other online book sellers around the world - unsigned. It is always nice when you can buy local or direct from the author and the "Big Retailers" only leave pennies for the author - Really!

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

We flew from Coolangatta to Adelaide on a morning flight to make the most of a travel day. The night before I had to reconfigure the quilt luggage pieces as the interstate flight had different luggage size and weight rules. Sometimes they even weigh your purse! There are scales at some of the airline gates.
Adelaide is absolutely beautiful, and we wish we had weeks there instead of days.

We picked up the rental car - We chose an Australian Holden Commodore - keeping with our Australian theme.
Next - the Australian National Wine Center. One the grounds is a historic barrel house and some sample vines next to a modern architecture visitors center. We explored the history of wine making in Australia.
We are hobby vintners over the past 20 years. Making all kinds of wines and port.

One of the exhibits illustrated each grape variety in detail.

Showing the leaf, cross section and seed of the grape.

So much potential in a small fruit! Entire empires have been built on processing a grape.

That evening we checked into our Apartment (Vacation Rental By Owner) in the heart of Adelaide.

Our 2 BR was on the 9th floor and had a wonderful view of the Adelaide Central Market entrance. So much within walking distance.

The most difficult decision of the trip was deciding which of the fantastic restaurants to enjoy!
We had quite a variety, paella and lamb chops at Gauchos - delectable fresh seafood! Peking Duck at T-Chow...

Back at the apartment before sweet dreams, we shared a bottle of wine and goodies from the market while we planned the next day. (Cheese, bread, chocolate and fresh fruit).

The Adelaide Central Market is filled is filled with food stalls with everything you can imagine....fresh quail eggs, 100's of cheese options, exotic flowers, fruits, vegetables, nuts and bakery stalls.

How lucky are local people who can shop here anytime?

We started most mornings here at a coffee shop for breakfast. Then it was off to the Barossa region for the vineyards.

I'll skip all the vineyards details, but if you're into wine I'm happy to email any details you like. I'll include the quilt bits at the vineyards.

About the Baroasa wine region... "Wine has been a way of life in Barossa since 1842. Fast forward to today, and Barossa is home to more than 550 grape growing families, many with the sixth generation still working the same plot of land, supplying quality grapes to more than 170 wine companies."

Seppelfields was a special place. We toured the original family home, still furnished with gleaming red cedar woodwork and period wall papers.

Note the tile on the porch - hard not to see quilts. We saw this style of tile often. To read more about the architecture read HERE.

In the tasting room there was a large bouquet of cotton bolls on the bar. Since cotton production is a bit controversial (I was told) we thought perhaps the vineyard owner has a stake in the industry as well as grapes.

Coffee and Breakfast at The Loose Caboose

The next day we all had our own plans. Trish went to a mosaic glass workshop outside of town with the car. The guys used the excellent public transportation and Uber to visit Hahndorf and Adelaide Hills. Yes, the photo links accurately show how beautiful every place is!
My friend Wendy picked me up at the apartment. I've "known" Wendy online for 18-20 years!! Our visit was TOO short.

Wendy arranged a special day of QUILTS at Hettie's Patch in Adelaide. I was so pleased to be able to meet quilters in person, many I had only had Internet contact with in the past.
Wendy and the 20+ girls there were so enthusiastic. I wish I could have brought more treasures to share with them.
The parking lot for the quilt shop and classroom is in the back. I love all the brick and stone. Check out the lavender plants five feet tall.

Eclectic mix from 1840 - 1940

The classroom was wonderful - we arranged tables to lay the quilts on for up close and person examination. Everyone got a seat around the table and we could walk around to see other sides of the quilts.
I also brought lots of small objects from my books (and a copy of my book) to show.
I managed to fill almost two hours and just about lost my voice - it was THAT FUN!

Sisters Sally and Jane with our Noah and Matilda Quilt

I had no idea people would be interested enough to fly in from out of town.
Jane, Sally, Claire and Bev flew in from Melbourne. What a treat for me!

Thank you again Wendy for the excellent organization!!

After I did my presentation, the girls put on an amazing Aussie themed lunch.

The shop uses their quilt as a table cover - no food harmed any quilts!

After lunch we had show and tell. I was so into it I forgot to take some photos and get permission to share! The girls brought some swap projects and other quilts.

Lynne brought her Blindman's Fancy.

Rich colors and prints. She brought some other quilts and I missed photos! You can find her work on Instagram HERE.

I think there were 30 + quilts brought and I didn't take enough photos - that was true of the entire day.

Erica brought her highly organized sets of swap blocks.

As she made a block for a swap, she also made a 6" block for herself. They are all organized and labeled. Erica's block tags are as beautiful as the blocks.

Each set of blocks is organized in its own labeled tote.

We joked that decades from now a historian will uncover her totes and advise, "this is how quitters kept they supplies". I'm thinking Erica is an exceptional organizer!

I forgot to ask her is she plans to assemble her blocks. I too have most sets NOT put into quilts. I did finish the Ohio Stars and the Elongated Nine Patch.

Sally brought a quilt she made using real Aboriginal fabric. By real I mean from the hands of women in Maningrida, Northern Territory - Australia. The women art part of the Barbara Women's Centre in Arnham Land. You can watch a video HERE.
Read Bios of the Artists HERE.

Thank you Sally for sharing your beautiful quilt, and information on the talented textile artists, including some indigenous history.

A beautiful and special quilt!

I am so honored to have received gifts, in addition to the gift of this special day!
Wendy made this Hexagon bag with a pattern from Hettie's Patch.
She filled it Australian products. In her online group we had discussed the merits of healing our needlework finger tips with Goat cream and PawPaw.
She also included Shiraz paste - spread for wine and cheese night! Some lip balm, chocolates, scissors and a bookmark.

Thank you again Wendy for the friendship and making the day great.
Wendy's website is HERE.

As with all my events I never get a list of attendees. I knew a few because they were customers I had been in contact with. Imagine my surprise when a taxi pulled up and delivered Bev and Clair all the way from Melbourne. I didn't think people would be that interested to travel very far. I am honored!

From Irene

Irene Craig, gifted me with a signed copy of her book, "Ayres House Dancing Dollies Quilt" The pattern and instructions were done with permission of the National Trust of South Australia. It is a lovely book and includes some color photos of the original quilt. Thrilled to have this!!

THANK YOU FOR A GREAT QUILT THEMED DAY IN ADELAIDE!

There might have been some glasses of wine consumed before Wendy took me on a drive through Adelaide, great buildings, scenic over looks - an amazing city I would visit again in a minute...or rather after18.5 hours in planes!! Worth. It.

A single day was WAY TOO SHORT. I was a wee bit tired - to be honest, back at the apartment I had a 15 minute catnap. Velma would have liked that.

That night we all had much to discuss. Everyone had so much fun.

Next stop in Part 3 - Granite Island and the Fairy Penguin tour.

Thanks for your generous comments on Part 1! I hope you enjoyed Part 2 as much.
Happy Stitching,
Dawn

The sounds of tropical birds from the bush are just like the sound track of a movie set.

They overlook the valley were one can see for miles - gorgeous blue skies. We had perfect weather everyday.

The first couple days we stayed local exploring the diverse area. We attended the Tweed Antique Fair where i bought a needle book.

Fingal Head Beach is a gorgeous stretch of coastline, recently voted the third best beach in Australia. When surfs up, Robert's got his board, out into the waves he goes.

We watched whales from the shore as they breached so many times we lost count. I could have stayed there for days!

The rock formations are basalt rock and the water is crystal clear.

The light house there is a kerosene reflector light 30 feet high. It warns ships of Cook Island, just off the coast. The light is visible 6-8 miles out to sea. It was automated in 1920.

This wasn't the last beach visit on the trip, they are all so beautiful.

We enjoyed a meal at the local fish and chips shop. The fish is fresh off the boat on ice. You select your fillet, take it to the counter and they cook it to order. We got take out and had a picnic. I chose barramundi, which is a variety of bass. YUM! Can't get much fresher than that.

We drove around several local towns and villages around Mount Warning, each with its own vibe. So diverse and fun to be out of the city.Uki (Population 203) The post office is a coffee shop, art gallery and news stand.Nimbin (Population 1,477) Is a "counter culture" village. I didn't have the heart to tell the people sitting on the sidewalks Marijuana is legal some US states now so there was nothing shocking for us.

World Renowned artist Margaret Olley donated to the gallery, including her home contents. The gallery has painstaking recreated the rooms just as Margaret left them. Every detail.

The rooms are insight into the everyday life of the artist, including her kitchen. The longer you look, the more you see.

We were also fortunate to see sculpture, photography and paintings by indigenous artists depicting flora and fauna of Australia.

A very impressive gallery!
Thankful we got to see it in person.

One of the gallery rooms had interactive installations. "Experimenta Make Sense: International Triennial of Media Art is an exhibition that expresses the disconcerting and delightful world of the digital age. Both playful and challenging, each artwork asks audiences to immerse their senses into a ‘thinking’, ‘feeling’ and ‘doing’ contemplation of what it is to be human in the digital age of technological acceleration"This is a photo of my breath.As you breath in a tub, the bubble enters a water tank where it breaks a laser beam. This triggers digital photo as the air bubbles through the water. The image is emailed to the participant.

While watching others participate it was interesting to see the difference in each "bubble". Not so sure about the analysis of the bubble, but it was food for thought.

But... what about the quilts you ask??

I visited a nice quilt shop within a few days of arriving - and bought fabrics. Not because they were any great bargain, rather older reproduction fabrics sold out in the US.

Quilt fabrics in Aus are very expensive compared to the US $11-$28AUD with is about $8 to $28USD.

My friend gifted me with a quilt and some embroidered pieces. We also looked at her beautiful collection of Molas from the Kuna people of the San Blas Islands. Very special! I'll show those in another post.

We purchased this treasure at auction and have the full story to share - Mary's life and the area with a Dutch connection.

c. 1850
Measures 85" x 71.5"

The full size digital pattern is available for instant download now, using the link HERE.

The pattern includes all of the blocks, alternate blocks designed by us, a full alphabet and the borders. $45 USD. 57 print pages.

The pattern works up beautifully in many fabric color ways.

This pastel wall hanging uses a few of the blocks and letters to make a wonderful gift. It's a pattern you can use over!

Mary Witherwax was a creative young woman!

This example uses a couple of the bonus alternate blocks,

I chose my reproduction to be a family name quilt.

Every block is a joy to make and hard to put down.

There will be a private Facebook group for those with the pattern that want to join. See the details on the pattern page. No pressure - just a fun place to share your progress. Lots of history about the quilt and Mary will be shared.
Even a few prizes along the way!

Friday, July 20, 2018

The "Printers Proof" for my Book - along with a celebratory bottle of wine. Quite exciting to see it in print - I think you will like it too.

So what's next?

In the next 6-8 weeks the books will arrive.
I have a listing in the Etsy shop for signed copies along with a free postage & bookmark.
There are preview pages on the listing.
HERE: Book. ON VACATION - will reopen the Etsy shop at the end of August.

Along with the book we have a line of patterns related to special sewing accessories - also available soon. Our new appliqué pattern is also at the printer and we have decided to offer it digitally as well.
Details to follow!

I have lectures and book signing events scheduled this year and next. Including Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Nebraska and The Netherlands. I would love to visit your group! Contact me and I can work with your events coordinator - or have them contact me directly.
I can custom tailor a lecture and workshop just for your group! Quilting and or Embroidery.

Thank you for your support and encouragement.

Happy Stitching,
Dawn

PS
I have distributor information for International shops - contact me, I'd love to have you stock the book.
US Shops: https://www.schifferbooks.com/contact-us.html

Friday, July 6, 2018

Congratulations to Michelle for her wonderful finish of her quilt, Harrison Rose.

Michelle gave permission to share this photo of her finished quilt on a king sized bed. Yes, many early appliqué antique quilts were very large!

Beautiful Quilt!
Beautiful Room!

We are so honored Michele used our pattern!

Michelle hand appliquéd and hand quilted her quilt.

She used all solid fabrics.

She chose to run her straight line quilting through the appliqué.

She used the feathered wreath motifs included with the pattern in her quilting.

She used Hobbs Heirloom batting.

The border is quilted in coral colored thread, the main center of the quilt is quilted in cream thread.

She used a "straighter" feather motif in the border than the one included with the pattern.

She also changed the color pallet of the applique, making the quilt "her own" - adding her own choices!

Didn't she do a wonderful job?
She's created a beautiful heirloom!

Happy Stitching,
Dawn
Our Harrison Rose Pattern is available HERE.
Read more about Harrison Rose HERE.
See other Harrison Rose finishes HERE and HERE
If you have a finish you would like to include, please us know!

She is planning to hand quilt, possibly with pearl cotton and maybe a big stitch.

She had a very special red that is hard to find for the border. In order to stretch it, she added 8 blocks to the border.
Great look!!

Lee Anne you captured the original look perfectly - thanks for sharing.

Send more photos of the quilting, we'd love to see it.

The choice of fabrics is perfect.

They sparkle in the summer sunshine.

There is a new line of fabrics due out soon - similar color ways perfect for this quit - stay tuned for more details this summer. I'm particularly interested in the double blue - could be stock up time!

Joy shared her quilt all hand stitched by her.
She combined three or four old patterns in a way that appealed to her.

It measures 71" x 71"

Perfect to hang behind a king size bed. She has a king size Pot of Flowers/Pride of Iowa quilt she has planned. What a room that will be!

The fabrics are all from a reproduction fabric line from Laurene Sinema of Phoenix.

This quilt was exhibited in Chicago and Houston in 2017 in "Traditional Appliqué".

Joy uses wool batting.

Incredible quilting - look at the wonderful texture!

Thank you for sharing Joy!

Pip has her Calico Paradise well under way. I have ALWAYS wanted to see this quilt in
Kaffe/Brights.

She swapped out some of the madder for turquoise.

Don't you love the multi colored leaves?

For the very center she used a classic Kaffe print.

Fun combination of dots and stripes!

Pip lives in Australia. I often think about the original maker and how she would have marveled at our fabrics and the distance we can share our quilting projects.

The color glows!
Love the variety of prints and how they all work together.

Thanks to all the quilters who shared their beautiful work.
Email me if you have photos you would like me to share.

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Welcome, so glad you are here!

We are sharing some of our quilt collection, patterns and assorted of vintage needlework tools. Quilt Patterns are available in our Etsy Store.

Please ask permission to use or PIN our photos.

Contact us: cwaneedle(at)gmail(dot)com

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Signed Copy

Antique American Needlework Tools

Pat Sloan Podcast Interview 398

I'm the third show guest

Mary Witherwax

Applique Pattern to Create and Heirloom

Noah & Matilda BOM .pdf Files to Order

Noah and Matilda Album Patterns - click on the quilt to order

BOM Details

Join us recreating the Noah and Matilda Album Quilt from our collection. Each pattern file includes multiple blocks in a .pdf file with a link emailed directly to you. The 8" blocks and border are completed in 12 monthly pattern files.

Click on the Noah and Matilda Tab on this blog to order.

Our Full Size Paper Patterns Reproduce accurate antique reproductions

Click Here to Enter our Etsy Shop

Catherine's Garden BOM

.pdf patterns released monthly in 2015. Click the photo to see the order page. Quilt Top shown is a partial.